by Bruce Bostwick

Created on: April 28, 2010   Last Updated: March 11, 2011

When the Cleveland Browns were going into the next season, there was actually somewhat of a sense of optimism.  They had removed both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson from the equation with Anderson going to the Cardinals and Quinn going to the Broncos for Hillis; it sure looked like a change.  They made a change and would go with Jake Delhomme as the starter followed by Seneca Wallace.  They would draft Colt McCoy to see what would happen for the season.  After winning the last four in a row in the 2009-10 season, they had to feel good about them being a better team than last year.

It is going to be expected that the franchise once again be the cellar dweller because of the simple fact that the AFC North is too strong of a division for them to be competitive. It wouldn’t have mattered if they had somehow gone 8-8 for the season because someone else could finish 9-7 and make Cleveland a last place team. This is a franchise that as of late can’t do anything right and maybe shouldn’t have been brought back but that’s neither here nor there.

The team has kept the games closer and has been better at defense but the offense is another story. The key for them would be to get some receivers, which they still need. There isn’t enough talent on the team and quite honestly not enough good talent. They are going to be a competitive team and will keep the games close but will not be able to finish. It makes you wonder if there will be some changes in the coaching, which is possible given how it is Cleveland after all.

Injuries are apart of the game but you must be having to wonder what goes with the Browns players. It seems like they have to be the most injury riddled team in the league and you have to question about what do these guys do during practice or for that matter in general if they’re not conditioned right or something. It isn’t that they are in terrible shape but it just doesn’t seem right that they continue to get injured a lot frequently.

The reason they will finish last is because of the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals. They are quite simply better than the Browns and it will remain that way for many years to come. It wouldn’t matter if they improved anymore, it will just be the same song and dance. Every week, it will be a case of wondering how long before there is a coaching change. There is a chance that somebody is going to be fired in the Browns organization by the time the season is over. The only question could be who will be the victim and will they find someone better? With the Browns, nothing has worked but they’ve got to figure it out and improve.

It truly is unknown how long it will take for them to stop being the punching bag.  While they can be expected to play better and keep the games close, it has to come to a question of what they can do to finally be a consistent winning team.  Only time will tell and for anyone who had serious expectations of divisional crowns or anything of that nature may want to lower the expectation level.  They are just not ready to compete and may never get to that point but only time will indeed be told.

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